Trackside Tavern ★ 4.0
$decatur{'monday': '16:00-00:00', 'tuesday': '16:00-00:00', 'wednesday': '16:00-00:00', 'thursday': '16:00-01:00', 'friday': '11:00-02:00', 'saturday': '11:00-02:00', 'sunday': '11:00-00:00'}
Trackside Tavern on East College Avenue is the Decatur dive that took the spot beside the MARTA tracks, with cheap beer, a burger-and-tots kitchen and occasional Saturday live music.
Tip: Cash-friendly, no cover, late kitchen. The covered patio sits trackside; freight trains roll past most evenings.
MJQ Concourse ★ 4.5
$$downtown{'monday': 'closed', 'tuesday': 'closed', 'wednesday': '23:00-04:00', 'thursday': '23:00-04:00', 'friday': '23:00-04:00', 'saturday': '23:00-04:00', 'sunday': 'closed'}
MJQ Concourse is the underground Atlanta dance club that has run since 1994, recently relocated into the Underground Atlanta complex with two rooms, a patio and house, techno and hip-hop selectors.
Tip: Open Wednesday through Saturday 23:00 to 04:00. MJQ Wednesdays remains the longest-running Wednesday dance party in the city; line forms before midnight.
Tongue and Groove ★ 4.0
$$$buckhead{'monday': 'closed', 'tuesday': 'closed', 'wednesday': 'closed', 'thursday': '22:00-03:00', 'friday': '22:00-03:00', 'saturday': '22:00-03:00', 'sunday': 'closed'}
Tongue and Groove in Lindbergh City Center is the Buckhead nightclub that began as a 1994 sushi lounge and grew into a multi-room party venue with bottle service and weekend DJ headliners.
Tip: Thursday industry nights, Friday and Saturday are bottle-service heavy. Dress code enforced after 22:00; reserve tables on the venue site.
Future Atlanta ★ 4.2
$$downtown{'monday': 'closed', 'tuesday': 'closed', 'wednesday': 'closed', 'thursday': 'varies by event', 'friday': '22:00-04:00', 'saturday': '22:00-04:00', 'sunday': 'varies by event'}
Future Atlanta is the 14,000 square foot two-story LGBTQ dance club inside Underground Atlanta with a main dance floor, drag cabaret stage and outdoor patio for weekend international DJ bookings.
Tip: Weekends bring touring DJs and Fantasy Girls Drag Cabaret. Tickets via the venue site; the patio is the easier entry point on busy nights.
Buckhead Saloon ★ 3.7
$$buckhead{'monday': 'closed', 'tuesday': 'closed', 'wednesday': 'closed', 'thursday': 'closed', 'friday': '21:00-03:00', 'saturday': '21:00-03:00', 'sunday': 'closed'}
Buckhead Saloon on Irby Avenue is the long-running dance bar in Buckhead Village with two floors, a mechanical bull and weekend DJ sets across hip-hop, country and dance hits.
Tip: Friday and Saturday only, 21:00 to 03:00. Free entry early; cover after 23:00 on weekends, dress code at the door.
The Tabernacle ★ 4.6
$$$downtown{'monday': 'varies by show', 'tuesday': 'varies by show', 'wednesday': 'varies by show', 'thursday': 'varies by show', 'friday': '19:00 doors, varies', 'saturday': '19:00 doors, varies', 'sunday': 'varies by show'}
The Tabernacle in a 1911 former Baptist church on Luckie Street is the 2,600 capacity Live Nation room that hosts rock, hip-hop, indie and comedy across three balconied levels in downtown Atlanta.
Tip: Floor general admission, balcony seated. Doors usually 19:00 with openers at 20:00; arrive early for the rail and watch the stained glass.